Ben Masters

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SOAP STAR STATS

Ben Masters (ex-Julian, PASSIONS)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Growing up in Oregon, Ben Masters did not let less-than-kind reviews of his high school performances derail him from pursuing his dream of being an actor. He graduated from University of Oregon as a theater major and moved to the Big Apple, where he landed a role in the off-Broadway play The Boys in the Band. After that came an agent and Broadway, where he had opportunity to work with Ingrid Bergman in Captain Brassbound's Conversion and Meryl Streep in The Cherry Orchard.

In addition to his theater runs, Masters worked consistently for three decades doing TV movies, miniseries and guest appearances, not to mention a short stint in 1982 as Vic Strang on NBC's ANOTHER WORLD. Daytime came knocking again 17 years later, when he signed on with a quirky new soap, PASSIONS. His comedic range as the alcohol-guzzling, womanizing billionaire Julian Crane earned him much critical acclaim and a slew of award nominations, including Soap Opera Digest Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in both 2001 and '02. In 2005 his dramatic material propelled him into the leading category.

As his character's past with Eve Russell came out, Julian slowly morphed into a romantic lead and recovering jerk. Meanwhile, Masters started dating Tracey Ross (Eve). The couple enjoy their very vocal "Evian" fan base and sympathized when that Julian regressed to being more evil than ever.

When not at work, Masters splits his time between his home in Palm Dessert, Calif., and his houseboat in Los Angeles. His hobbies include doing The New York Times crossword puzzle with his morning coffee, sailing and golfing.

Et Cetera

Five Random Facts
—Performed nude in the off-Broadway play The Dirtiest Show in Town
—Broke his neck in a car accident when he was 27
—Owns a yellow Labrador named Willy
—Has a golf handicap of 13
—Enjoys scented candles in his dressing room

Career Highlights

TV Roles
PENSACOLA: WINGS OF GOLD (1998-'99)
SPY GAME (1997)
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (1997)
SISTERS (1996)
DIAGNOSIS: MURDER (1994)
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER (1994)
MURDER, SHE WROTE (1990, 1993 and 1994)
CIVIL WARS (1992)
HEARTBEAT (1988)
BARNABY JONES (1978 and 1979)
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER (1975)
PETROCELLI (1974)
KOJAK (1974)

TV Movie/MIniseries Roles
THE SECOND CIVIL WAR (1997)
LADY KILLER (1995)
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER 3: DEADLY REUNION (1994)
A TIME TO HEAL (1994)
A TWIST OF THE KNIFE (1993)
RUNNING MATES (1992)
CRUEL DOUBT (1992)
THE KEYS (1992)
STREET OF DREAMS (1988)
NOBLE HOUSE (miniseries, 1988)
RIVIERA (1987)
KATE'S SECRET (1986)
THE DELIBERATE STRANGER (1986)
CELEBRITY (miniseries, 1984)
ILLUSIONS (1983)
THE NEIGHBORHOOD (1982)
THE SHADOW BOX (1980)
LOOSE CHANGE (miniseries, 1978)
ONE OF OUR OWN (1975)

Film Roles
Making Mr. Right (1987)
Dream Lover (1986)
Key Exchange (1985)
All That Jazz (1979)
Mandingo (1975)

Mastering Quotes

"The show has all these guys with great bodies, and they still make me get naked in bed. It's like, 'Can't I just walk around in a caftan?' I mean, I'm not over the hill yet, but I thought my days of taking my clothes off on-camera were over!" —Soap Opera Digest, 2/1/00

"It's hard for a woman to come on [the show] and say to her, 'Now you have to ring a bell and pretend you're a milkmaid with your chest hanging out.' " —on Julian's sex romp with Suzanne the maid, portrayed by Dana Waters, in Digest, 5/2/00

"I've learned that Kim is like a Petri dish full of bacteria. Every other week, she comes in coughing and trying to get everyone else sick." —on co-star Kim Johnson Ulrich (Ivy), in Digest, 3/20/01

You Should Hear What People Say About You!

“He has magic with everybody. He could do a scene with a potted plant and have chmistry.”
— Tracey Ross, Soap Opera Weekly, 7/6/04

“He’s a beautiful, sexy man. On television, movies, anywhere, he’s the sexiest.”
— Ross, Weekly, 7/6/04

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